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Sitter in 8 portraitsWidely known as a propagandist for the abolition of slavery in the British colonies. He made a series of lectures in 1833 that led to the creation of 'the Edinburgh Society for the abolition of slavery throughout the world'. The next year he travelled to the United States where he worked for the abolition of slavery with members of the American Anti-Slavery Society. He was instrumental in forming more than 300 abolitionist branch associations. However, his life was constantly in danger, and in 1835, he was forced to escape from Boston back to Britain. Thompson was also involved in the National Parliamentary Reform Association and was a member of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was an MP from 1847 until 1852.